The bodies of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were re-interred in the Basilica of St. Denis and the Bourbons were restored for a while, following the fall of Napoleon in 1814.
‘RE-INTERMENT OF THE BODIES OF LOUIS XVI. AND MARIE ANTOINETTE.
“Paris, Jan. 21.–To-day, at six in the morning, the different regiments of the garrison of Paris were on foot. At seven they occupied the posts assigned to them. The mourning coaches, and the funeral car destined to receive the remains of the King and Queen arrived between seven and eight at the cemetery of the Magdalen. Monsieur, and the Princes his sons, arrived at eight precisely, in the same carriage, and were immediately followed by the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Bourbon. Every thing being in readiness for the august though melancholy ceremony, the two leaden coffins were placed on the funeral car, and the procession commenced. It was led by several Generals, with a detachment of light horse, and was followed by numerous bodies of military ; next came the Ministers, Grand Dignitaries of the Kingdom, Bishops and other ecclesiastics, and the chief officers of the palace, to which succeeded the carriages of the Princes of the Blood ; Monsieur, the Duke of Angouleme, and Duke of Berri, were in the mournful procession. Last came the funeral car, on which all eyes were fixed, and which contained the object of our eternal regret and repentance. The car was surrounded by a detachment of the Swiss. On the right and left marched a long line of poor of both sexes, bearing torches. Numerous detachments of the body guards closed the whole. Cannon were fired at intervals. At the gate of St. Denis the clergy were in waiting for the procession, which arrived at mid-day. The great gate of St. Denis was hung with black, and exhibited a simple and touching Latin inscription, in large characters.–The procession advanced towards the church. The coffins being taken down from the car, were placed under a catafalque, surmounted by a royal mantle and crown, surrounded by wax lights. The church was entirely hung with black, and at intervals were suspended the arms of France, surrounded with palms in silver. The nave and the gallery were filled with a crowd of persons in mourning.–Soult and Oudinot held the pall over the coffin of Louis ; the Presidents, Barthelemy and Laine, the pall over the coffin of the Queen.–At two o’clock the Bishop of Troyes delivered the funeral oration. The ceremony, during the whole of which minute guns were fired, was terminated at half-past four. The weather was cold and cloudy, but the assemblage of the inhabitants of the capital was immense all the way from Paris to St. Denis : no noise, not a word disturbed this religious ceremony ; all appeared impressed with the feelings it was calculated to excite.
“It is intended that a form of prayer shall be introduced into the French Liturgy, in commemoration of the martyrdom of Louis XVI., similar in principle to that read in the English Churches for the martyrdom of Charles I.
“A celebration of the day on which Louis XVI. lost his life, was ordered by the Emperor of Austria, at the request of Talleyrand, to take place at Vienna, on the 21st January, the Emperor and his family intending to assist in it. The other Sovereigns it was likewise thought would be present.”–Moniteur.‘
Stamford Mercury, 3rd February, 1815.